Shloka 96

Mukti-tattva Upadeśa: Knowledge as the Direct Cause of Liberation

Devanagari script

यावद्देहाभिमानश्च ममता यावदेव हि / यावत्प्रयत्नवेगो ऽस्ति यावत्संकल्पकल्पना

Transliteration

yāvaddehābhimānaśca mamatā yāvadeva hi / yāvatprayatnavego 'sti yāvatsaṃkalpakalpanā

Translation

ตราบใดที่ยังยึดกายว่าเป็นตน และมีความเป็น ‘ของเรา’; ตราบใดที่แรงผลักแห่งความพยายามยังมี; ตราบนั้นสังกัลปะและกัลปนา—การปรุงแต่งของใจ—ย่อมเกิดขึ้นไม่หยุด.

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kala/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधिबोधक

• देह-अभिमानः: identification with the body
• देह-अभिमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (देहे अभिमानः / देहस्य अभिमानः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• ममता: possessiveness
• ममता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ममता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kala/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधिबोधक

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/causal nuance)

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kala/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधिबोधक

• प्रयत्न-वेगः: impetus of effort
• प्रयत्न-वेगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (प्रयत्नस्य वेगः)

• अस्ति: exists/is
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Kala/Avadhi (काल/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधिबोधक

• संकल्प-कल्पना: imagination/constructing of intentions
• संकल्प-कल्पना: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संकल्प (प्रातिपदिक) + कल्पना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (संकल्पस्य कल्पना)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: As long as dehabhimana (I-am-the-body) and mamata (mine-ness) persist, and as long as the momentum of striving continues, sankalpa-kalpana (intentional imagining) keeps arising—blocking stillness and insight.

Vedantic Theme: Ahamkara/mamakara as adhyasa; sankalpa-vikalpa as vritti-prapanca; need for disidentification and mind-quieting for atma-jnana.

Application: Observe 'I' and 'mine' thoughts, practice neti-neti and witness-consciousness, reduce ego-driven striving, and cultivate non-possessiveness (aparigraha) and mindful intention-setting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.49.95 (vasana/indriya restlessness); Garuda Purana 2.49.97 (mind steadiness, shastra-vicara, guru-kripa)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Jiva
• Deha (body)
• Manas (mind)

FAQs

What is the importance of dehābhimāna (body-identification) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats body-identification as a root condition that sustains possessiveness and mental projections, which in turn keep the jīva bound to restless striving rather than clarity and release.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

By indicating that as long as ego and ‘mine-ness’ persist, the inner momentum of intention and imagination continues—conditions that shape the jīva’s tendencies and experiences in transitional states discussed in the Preta Kanda.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice reducing ‘I am the body’ thinking and ‘this is mine’ clinging; simplify desires and intentions, and cultivate steadier awareness—supporting ethical living, calmer dying, and fewer fear-driven compulsions.